Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
It
is faith without sight.
When we can see, it is not faith, but
reasoning.
In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of
faith.
We saw no path upon the sea, nor sign of the shore.
And yet day
by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there
had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea.
And when we came within
twenty miles of land, we knew where we were as exactly as if we had
seen it all three thousand miles ahead.
How had we
measured and marked our course?
Day by day our captain had taken his
instruments and, looking up to the sky, had fixed his course by the sun.
He was sailing by the heavenly, not the earthly lights.
So
faith looks up and sails on, by God's great Sun, not seeing one shore
line or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way.
Often its steps seem to
lead into utter uncertainty, and even darkness and disaster...
But He
opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of
day.
Let us go forth this day, not knowing, but trusting.
~Days of
Heaven upon Earth~
Too many of us want to see our way
through before starting new enterprises.
If we could and did, from
whence would come the development of our Christian graces?
Faith, hope
and love cannot be plucked from trees, like ripe apples.
After the words
'In the beginning' comes the word 'God'!
The first step turns the key
into God's power-house...
You can depend upon Him every time.
Waiting on God brings us to our journey's end quicker than our feet.
The opportunity is often lost by deliberation.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Purity, even purity of heart, is the main thing to be aimed at.
We need to be made clean within through the Spirit and the Word...
And then we shall be clean without by consecration and obedience.
There is a close connection between the affections and the understanding:
If we love evil we cannot understand that which is good.
If the heart is foul, the eye will be dim.
How can those men see a holy God who love unholy things?
What a privilege it is to see God here!
A glimpse of Him is heaven below!
In Christ Jesus the pure in heart behold the Father.
We see Him, His truth, His love, His purpose, His sovereignty, His covenant character...
Yea, we see Himself in Christ.
But this is only apprehended as sin is kept out of the heart.
Only those who aim at godliness can cry, "Mine eyes are ever towards the LORD."
The desire of Moses, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," can only be fulfilled in us as we purify ourselves from all iniquity.
We shall "see him as he is,"...
And "every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself."
The enjoyment of present fellowship and the hope of the beatific vision are urgent motives for purity of heart and life.
LORD, make us pure in heart that we may see Thee!
~Charles Spurgeon~













